Thu Feb 20 02:22:49 UTC 2025: ## Pentagon to Slash Defense Budget by $50 Billion
**Washington, D.C. –** U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of the 2026 defense budget, initiating plans to reallocate $50 billion. This follows reports of planned eight percent annual cuts to the budget, totaling approximately $290 billion over the next five years.
While the Pentagon didn’t directly confirm the reported eight percent annual cuts, a statement from Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses indicated a shift in funding priorities. The review aims to redirect funds from programs initiated under the Biden administration to those aligned with President Trump’s “America First” national defense strategy.
A Washington Post report revealed a memo from Secretary Hegseth mandating plans for these cuts by February 24th. The memo reportedly includes 17 programs exempted from cuts, such as border security and nuclear weapons modernization. Notably, Indo-Pacific and Space Commands are slated for continued funding, while the status of others, including European Command, remains unclear.
Secretary Hegseth emphasized the need to revitalize military readiness and enhance deterrence. The proposed cuts, if fully implemented, would reduce the current $850 billion 2025 budget to approximately $560 billion by 2030. This reallocation aligns with President Trump’s broader commitment to reducing government spending and coincides with a recent Pentagon visit from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Secretary Hegseth publicly expressed support for DOGE’s efforts to eliminate wasteful spending.
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